Direction indicator



W. F. FREEMAN AND V I. CILLEY. DIRECTION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 2. 1920.

1,%22,955. Patentfid y 18, 19 22.

3 I63 I 77 2 S5HEETS-SHEET 1.

W. F. FREEMAN AND V. I. CILLEY.

DIRECTION INDiCATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2. 1920.

iran STATES.

FFIQE.

WILLIAM F. FREEMAN AND VRL ITHIEL CILLEY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, IVIICHIGAN.

Application filed October 2, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM F. Fann- MAN and Van I. CILLEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Direction Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in direction indicators for use upon automobiles, and kindred vehicles, and its objects are: first, to provide a means whereby a signal having a revoluble cylinder therein with several indicating symbols thereon, may be operated directly from the brake rod. of the vehicle to actuate the cylinder to exhibit the danger signal and the stop signal with but a slight movement of the brake rod without danger of revolving the cylinder further with further longitudinal movement of the brake rod second to rovide a means, independently of the brake rod or brake mechanism, whereby these, and additional signal symbols maybe exhibited; third, to provide a means whereby the-revolnble movements of the cylinder may be readily regulated to properly exhibit the several symbols; fourth, to provide a means whereby the sudden stopping of the cylinder and other several elements in the indicator may be accomplished without metallic sounds or poundings; fifth, to provide a means whereby the cylinder and its supporting frame may be readily placed into, and removed from the indicator case; sixth, to provide a means whereby rays of light from the interior of the cylinder will be prevented from shining or passing through between the edges of two cylinder panels to the transparent panel in the indicator case, and, seventh, to provide a means whereby the actuating cable may be protected, first, from corrosion by exposure to the weather, and, second, from rapid erosion from friction upon its supporting elements.

vVe attain these objectsby the mechanism and arrangement ofparts shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the case and cylinder, showing the relative positions of the several elements of our invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the, relatively, right hand end of the indicator with the end cap removed to show the relative positions of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1922- Serial no. 414,297. I

. the several elements for actuating the cylinder. Fig, 3 is a sectional elevation of the other end of the case showing the manner of constructing the cylinder frame. F ig. i is a front elevation of the cylinder fram e. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a part of an automobile body showing the relative positions, and the applications of the several parts of our invention with the indicator case, and the flexible enclosing tube for the actuating cable, considerably exaggerated in size to make their application and operation more clear than if shownupon a uniform scale with the automobile body. F ig. 6 is an elevation of the, relatively, left hand end of the indicator case with the end cap removed to show the several elements this end of the indicator. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the cylinder reels or spools showing its stop, or bumper pad. Fig. 8 is an edge view of the bumper support showing means for supporting the other bumper element. Fig. 9 is' an elevation of the control case with the back removed to show the relative positions of its several elements. Fig. 10 is an edge view of the same, and, Fig. 11'is aback view of the same.

Similar reference characters indicate placed upon similar parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 represents the indicator case; 2 is the end cap of the case. In the construction of the case we depress the ends, at 8 so as to form a close frictional bearingbetween the ends of the case and the-flanges on the end caps 2, as at 4: securing the cap thereto in such a manner that it, or they, may be readily removed. In this construction the cylinder is composed of four panels 6, (more or less) mounted upon the edged of the ends 9, which are provided with flanges 9. The ends 9 are providedwith cylindrical bearings 8, 8, the former being designed to revolve freely within the openings formed by the flanges 14 on the frame ends 5, and the latter are designed to pass snugly into the flanged bearing 9 in the cylinder ends. The panels 6 are made of sheet metal and have indicating symbols, as 7, made therein.

ily placed into the case 1 and be held securely by friction at at, and may be readily removed from the case, when desired.

In carrying out our invention, we mount an antifriction roller 11 upon the spool rim 10, arranged to stand normally, directly at the upper edge of the spool. W e then mount a cam arm 12, pivotally, upon the frame end 5, as at 24k, the normally lower end of the arm being provided with hub 13, and the upper end having the cam 12 formed thereon in such a position that if the arm is drawn, relatively, to the right, as in Fig. 2, the cam will contact the antifriction roller 11 and will. carry the cylinder one quarterot' a revolution, as indicated at 17,

' as soon as the cam has been moved far enough to carry its inclined end ofi of the roller, and the balance of the travel, it any, otthe camwillnotdisturb the position of thecylinder. To actuate the cylinder in this instance, the cable 22, is passed through the flexibletube 9-1, and one end thereof is securely connected with the hub 13, the other end being secured to the brake rod 31, as at 23, so that the first slight movement of the brake lever 17 will move the cam arm, and the cylinder, as hereinbefore described, moving the cylinder from its normal position, say to exhibit an ordinary tail light, one quarter of a revolution to exhibit, say, the word Stop, these being presumed to be the two essential signals and necessarily, demanding actual automatic action.

In this instance we have indicated a cylinder with four sides, hence four indicating symbols. Having intimated the nature of the essential signals, we will presume that theother two signals comprisea right hand, and a, left hand indicating symbol, as arrows, indicated at 7. To actuate the cylininder to exhibit these symbols independently of the. brakemechnism, we secure a second flexible tube, 19, (or preferably so) to the end of the indicator, as with the clamping plates 18, and: pass a metal cable 520 through this tube with one end passed around the hub 8 of one of the. spools on the cylinder andsecure it thereto, so that it the cable 20 is drawn upon it will cause the cylinder to revolve proportionately. e prefer that the flexible tube 19 extend fromthe indicator casethe entire distance to the element by whichit'is controlled, but this is not essentially necessary. The other end of the cable is connected with some available form of control, as, for instance, the control shown at 30, mounted upon the steering post 29.

This control consists of a containing case 30 that is securely clamped upon the steering post 29. as indicated in Fig. 9. In this case is revolubly mounted acylindrical hub 32, the flexible tube beingsecured to the case as at c and the .cable 20 is passed through the rim of the cylinder, as at C, and is'secured to the stud 36 in such a manner that should the cable stretch slightly. or, for any other reason, need adjustment, this can be attained by turning the stud around and winding the cable around it, as indicated in Fig. 9. This stud is secured into the case in such a manner that it may be readily revolved, but will be held securely in place, against the natural strain of the cable, so that no matter where it is set, it will remain stationary and hold the cable in the exact desired position. lVe secure a lever 33 to the cylinder 32 and pass it through the slot A in the case 30. To insure the proper exposition of, the arrow symbols we form a stop at a, and another at 72, so that when the leverBS is carriedto the position indicated at a one arrow as the right indicating arrow, will be exposed, and it the lever is car ried to h theother arrow, as the left indicating arrow will be exposed.

A very objectionable feature present in indicators having revoluble cylinders is the fact that when the cylinder is suddenly revolved to its extreme limit, whether 'Forwardly or backwardly, metal coming incontact with metal will produce a very loud, rattling metallic sound, and to obviate this we have placed a supporting element, as the arm 27 upon the end of the cylinder frame. and to this we have secured aleather bumper 28. or its equivalent, and have placed a corresponding securing; plate 25, and bumper 26 upon the flange 10 of the spool 8 in such po sitions that when the cylinder is carried to its extreme limit of travel these bumpers will be in contact. and no matter how forcibly the contact may be brought about the sudden contact of the soft material will give off, comparatively, no sound. We bring about the same results by forming a slot, 35, in. the body of the cylinder 30, with the ends projecting at right angles, as at (Z. and placing a bumper 34, ofsome soft material, as leather. etc., securely upon the cyl inder back. as shown in Fig. 9 andv indicated in Fig. ll of the drawing. o sometimes provide, also. for regulatiug:- the move ments of the lever 33 by placing an adjustable plate 37 upon the rim of the case 30 immediately at the lower end of the slot A, that may be over the end of the slot it necessary, but prefer the use of the stud 85 for this purpose.

At 38 we have shown how the two sides of the control case may be held securely in place together, by means or a single screw passed through one ot the plates and screwed into the supporting; stud It is to be understood that the cylinder is always revolved back into normal position by means of a properly adjusted spring. as indicated at 40.

One of the prime advantages attained by this construction of the cylinder trameois that it may be used, within the body of the automobile without any enclosing case, by simply anchoring it within the car at the desired place, and cutting a suitable opening through the car for the passage of light and the exhibit of the symbols. This is partic ularly ai'lvantageous where the indicators are to be made a part'of the standard equipment of the automobile in the process of manufacturing the automobiles, or other vehicles.

When the cylinder in this indicator stands in its normal position an ordinary tail light with, perhaps, some ornamental symbols, will be exhibited through the front opening of the case. When revolved into second position the word Stop or its equivalent will be exhibited. when revolved into and and fourth positions, respectively, a right hand pointing arrow, or a left hand pointing arrow will be exhibited, etc., hence these terms will be used to designate the several positions, in the claims.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new in the art, is:

1. In combination with a direction indicator having a revoluble symbol cylinder therein; an antifriction roller revolubly mounted upon one end of the cylinder, a cam arm pivotally mounted, at one end, upon the end of the cylinder frame, a cam mounted on the other end of the arm in position to engage the antifriction roller and revolve the cylinder from first position into second position, and means for connecting the cam arm with the brake rod of an automobile.

2. In combination with a revoluble direction indicator, a frame for supporting the revoluble cylinder, and bearings at the ends of the cylinder in the ends of the frame, said bearings having flanges thereon, an antifriction roller revolubly mounted upon one of the flanges, a cam arm pivotally mounted at one end upon the end of the cylinder frame, a cam upon the other end of the cam arm so formed that first contact with the antifriction roller will revolve the cylinder from first position into second position and that further movement of the cam in the same direction will not affect the position of the r rod of an automobile in such a manner that the first movement of the brake rod forwardly will revolve the cylinder from first position into second position and further movement of the brake rod will not change the position of the cylinder though changing the positions of the cam and of the cable.

In combination with a direction indicator having a revoluble symbol cylinder with several distinct symbols therein, askele ton frame for carrying the cylinder, an antiwith the first forward movement of the brake lever, means for holding the cylinder steadily in second position during the further for ward movements of the brake lever, means independently of the brake mechanism for revolving the cylinder into third position,

fourth position, or other desired positions,

and means for returning the cylinder into normal position when released.

at. In combination with an automobile direction indicator having a revoluble symbol cylinder therein, an enclosing case having a front opening therein, arranged to eX- hibit several distinct symbols through the one opening in the case, a skeleton frame for revolubly supporting the cylinder at each end thereof, means connected withone end of the cylinder frame and with the cylinder and the brake mechanism whereby the cylinder will be made to revolve from first position into second position with the first forward movement of the brake mechanism and will remain stationary during further forward movement of the brake mechanism, means connected with the end of the cylinder for moving the cylinder into further successive positions independently of the brake mechanism, a stationary light within the cylinder, means for returning the cylinder into normal position when released by the actuating mechanism, and means for rendering the stopping of the cylinder noiseless.

play opening therein, a symbol cylinder 'revolubly mounted within the case, means connecting the cylinder with the brake mechanism of an automobile in such a manner that the first forward movement of the brake rod will revolve the cylinder from first position one quarter of a revolution into second position and hold it permanently during furtherforward movement, and the first backward movement of the brake rod will allow the cylinder to return into normal position, means independent of the brake mechanism for revolving the cylinder into other predetermined positions in dependently of the brake mechanisms, and means for returning the cylinder automatically into normal position when released by the actuating mechanism, and so arranged that the several signal symbols may be successively or individually displayed through the one opening in the front of the case.

6. In combination with the mechanism iio covered in claim 3, an arm secured at one end to the end of the cylinder frame, the other end of this arm extending upwardly and offset to pass over the end of the oylinder, :1 soft bnflei' element secured to the upper end of said post, and a soft buffer ele ment securedto the end of the cylinder in position to engage the buffer element on the 'arm at each end ofthe IGVfilUblG move ments of the cylinder and dc-aden the sound 10 of forcible contact between the ii-n1 and cylinder end.

Signed at G'and Rapids, lli'lichigan, September 24, 1920.

VVILLIAM F. FREEMAN. VRL ITHIEL CILLEY. 

